The Common Council voted unanimously Wednesday to support building a casino on the Hudson River, putting the city on a path that many in Saratoga Springs want to avoid.

While Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County residents are rallying to oppose a casino, Rensselaer sees a solution for rebuilding its infrastructure and reducing property taxes.

"They have their own difficulties up there. Down here it's a better fit," Common Council President Harry Adalian said after the 10-0 vote.

None of the 16 people who attended the Common Council meeting spoke against building a casino on the 24-acre site owned by U.W. Marx Construction Corp.

City officials acknowledged there's a casino operator who's taken an interest in the shovel-ready site that's a short distance from the nation's ninth busiest railroad station and linked to Albany and its network of interstate highways.

Mayor Dan Dwyer was the only person to speak on the casino issue urging the council to support the measure and send a message to state government.

"I'm going to try to work to get the casino in here," Dwyer told the council.

Casino-generated revenues would allow the city to rebuild its water and sewer lines; retire its debt; reduce property taxes; and beautify the city, the mayor told the council.

"We are not an affluent city. We have people living on the edge. This would be a great help to them," Dwyer said shortly before the Common Council voted.

"Community support for any project is crucial to success, so the city of Rensselaer's action tonight is an appropriate first step. I look forward to any potential proposals so that a forthright review of all positive and negative aspects of a casino can be done," said County Executive Kathleen Jimino.

Sixth Ward Alderman Brian Stall, the incoming council president, said the vote indicated the city is open to seeing the casino process unfold.

A state panel will determine where to site a casino in the Capital Region.

Dwyer stressed that city of Rensselaer and Rensselaer County voters support casino gambling. City voters backed the with 60 percent of the vote on Nov. 5 while 51 percent of county voters approved the measure. In Saratoga County, 54 percent of the voters opposed the proposition and in Saratoga Springs the opposition rose to 57 percent.

Saratogians Against Vegas-style Expansion (SAVE) has organized to fight locating a casino in Saratoga Springs. Last week in response to local opposition, Saratoga County officials canceled a vote to endorse casino gambling.